[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 187 (Thursday, September 30, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54135-54136]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21050]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0427; Project Identifier 2008-SW-72-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. 
(Previously Utah State University); California Department of Forestry; 
Firefly Aviation Helicopter Services (Previously Erickson Air-Crane 
Co.); Garlick Helicopters, Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; 
Hagglund Helicopters, LLC (Previously Western International Aviation, 
Inc.); International Helicopters, Inc.; Precision Helicopters, LLC; 
Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; San Joaquin Helicopters (Previously Hawkins 
and Powers Aviation, Inc.); S.M.&T. Aircraft (Previously US 
Helicopters, Inc., UNC Helicopter, Inc., Southern Aero Corporation, and 
Wilco Aviation); Smith Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; 
Southwest Florida Aviation International, Inc. (Previously Jamie R. 
Hill and Southwest Florida Aviation); Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. 
(Previously Ranger Helicopter Services, Inc.); US Helicopter, Inc. 
(Previously UNC Helicopter, Inc.); West Coast Fabrication; and Williams 
Helicopter Corporation (Previously Scott Paper Co.) Model AH-1G, AH-1S, 
HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-
1P Helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model UH-1B (SW204 and 
SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD 2002-20-01, 
which applies to certain Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-
1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters; and Southwest Florida 
Aviation Model SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 helicopters, 
manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) for the Armed 
Forces of the United States. The NPRM would have required removing 
certain serial-numbered tension-torsion (TT) straps from service, 
reducing the retirement life for other TT straps, and establishing a 
retirement life in terms of calendar time in addition to hours time-in-
service (TIS) for certain other affected TT straps. The NPRM also would 
have added two model helicopters to the applicability of the AD. The 
NPRM was prompted by fatigue cracking in certain TT straps that have 
stainless steel filament windings and a determination that corrosion 
damage, which is related to calendar time, necessitated a calendar time 
retirement life for certain TT straps in addition to the retirement 
life based on hours TIS. The NPRM was also prompted by fatigue cracking 
in other TT straps with encased thin stainless steel plates. Since 
issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has re-reviewed the available information 
and determined that the totality of the available information does not 
support issuance of a final rule. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

DATES: As of September 30, 2021 the proposed rule, which was published 
in the Federal Register on April 22, 2010 (75 FR 20933), is withdrawn.

ADDRESSES: 

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2010-
0427; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this AD action, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jurgen Priester, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Delegation Oversight Section, DSCO Branch, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5159; email 
jurgen.e.priester@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 54136]]

Discussion

    The FAA issued an NPRM that proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by 
removing AD 2002-20-01, Amendment 39-12895 (67 FR 61771, October 2, 
2002), which applies to restricted category Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, 
UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters; and 
Southwest Florida Aviation Model SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 
helicopters, manufactured by BHTI for the Armed Forces of the United 
States. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2010 
(75 FR 20933). The NPRM would have applied to Model AH-1G, AH-1S, HH-
1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH -A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P 
helicopters with BHTI main rotor TT strap, part number (P/N) 204-011-
113-1, 204-012-112-1, 204-012-112-5, 204-012-112-7, 204-012-122-1, 204-
012-122-5, 204 310-101-101, or Bendix Energy Controls Co. P/N 2601139, 
2601399, 2601400, or 2606650, installed; and Southwest Florida Aviation 
Model UH-1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) helicopters. The NPRM 
was prompted by fatigue cracking in certain TT straps that have 
stainless steel filament windings and a determination that corrosion 
damage, which is related to calendar time, necessitates a calendar time 
retirement life for certain TT straps in addition to the retirement 
life based on hours TIS. The NPRM was also prompted by fatigue cracking 
in other TT straps with encased thin stainless steel plates.
    The NPRM proposed to require removing certain serial-numbered TT 
straps from service, reducing the retirement life for other TT straps, 
and establishing a retirement life in terms of calendar time in 
addition to hours TIS for certain other affected TT straps. The NPRM 
also proposed to add two model helicopters to the applicability. The 
proposed actions were intended to prevent failure of a TT strap, loss 
of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

    Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has re-reviewed the available 
information and failure data used to justify issuance of the NPRM, and 
reviewed the service difficulty data produced since the NPRM was 
issued. Through that review, the FAA determined that there have not 
been any further reported problems with the affected part number TT 
straps since the NPRM was issued. Based on that review, the FAA 
concluded that the totality of the available information and the lack 
of additional reports does not support issuance of a final rule. The 
potential unsafe condition identified as the justification for issuance 
of the NPRM has not materialized. Therefore, the FAA has determined 
that AD action is not appropriate.
    Withdrawal of the NPRM constitutes only such action and does not 
preclude the FAA from further rulemaking on this issue, nor does it 
commit the FAA to any course of action in the future.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to comment on the NPRM and 
received 38 comments. The FAA received comments from individual 
commenters as well as from organizations on a variety of topics, 
including the costs estimates, compliance times, and requests to 
withdraw the NPRM. You may examine the comments received in the AD 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0427.
    The FAA acknowledges these comments to the NPRM. However, because 
the FAA is withdrawing the NPRM, the commenter's requests are no longer 
necessary.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration of the available information, the FAA 
has determined that the NPRM is unnecessary. Accordingly, the NPRM is 
withdrawn.

Regulatory Findings

    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
nor a final rule. This action therefore is not covered under Executive 
Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Withdrawal

0
Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. FAA-2010-
0427, which was published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2010 (75 
FR 20933), is withdrawn.

    Issued on September 23, 2021.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-21050 Filed 9-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


